Connections
Chapter Seven
First thing the next morning without even stopping for breakfast, Trip strode purposely through the doors of Sick Bay and came to a halt just behind Doctor Phlox. Phlox looked up from the preparation of one of his strange concoctions and presented Trip with one of those wide Denobulan smiles that filled his entire face and which Trip found way too disconcerting to be welcoming.
"Good morning, Commander, and what can I do for you?" Phlox asked before smiling again, thankfully a lot less intensely than before.
Suddenly Trip found himself completely tongue tied. Although he knew what he wanted to ask, he just couldn't find the right words. He decided instead to try and come up with some sort of convincing ailment to explain his presence in Sick Bay but no inspiration was forthcoming on that front either. Trip became aware he was grinning inanely back at the Doctor, trying and failing to match Phlox's impressive display.
"It's alright Commander, whatever the problem is I am not easily shocked, why I remember once…."
Trip jumped right in before Phlox could launch into what would probably be a detailed and intimate explanation of some unusual alien sexual practice, blurting out "Have you ever heard of a Vulcan mate bond?"
Phlox raised his eyebrows and gave Trip a long hard questioning look. Had he managed to shock him, no, Trip decided that it was more likely that he was upset at being interrupted in the midst of a good story.
"Commander, can I suggest that there is another member of the crew who is far better placed to answer your query," Phlox responded with just a hint of sarcasm.
"Yes…yes I know… but I'm asking you" Trip retorted, feeling more and more uncomfortable by the second.
"Very well, please have a seat," the Denobulan instructed, motioning to one of two seats situated beside a bank of medical consoles.
Trip sat down obediently. However instead of joining him Phlox disappeared behind a large shelving unit and Trip could then hear him speaking to someone.
"If it is convenient you could take a short break from your work now."
Corporal Amanda Cole emerged from behind the shelves where Phlox kept his lotions and potions and Trip's discomfort turned to downright embarrassment as he wondered what the hell she was doing there and how much she had overheard. However he also still managed to appreciate that she was dressed in civvies, a red t-shirt and black trousers and that wearing her hair down made her look much younger and more feminine. Then Amanda gave Trip a knowing wink, signalling in a very definite way that she had heard his question and was choosing to read loads into it.
"Morning Corporal," Trip managed before he felt his face redden and he had to lower his eyes while his tongue roamed nervously around the inside of his mouth.
"Good morning, Commander," Amanda responded way too happily. Trip was left wondering just how long it would take before his Vulcan question was the talk of the ship.
Phlox must have sensed Trip's disquiet because he quickly addressed both of them, his voice suitably serious, "Corporal Cole has volunteered to help out in Sick Bay and is going to be a very able assistant. I'm sure she understands that any matter discussed here will go no further."
"Of course Doctor Phlox, I'll be back in fifteen minutes; would you like me to bring you something back from the Mess Hall?" Amanda asked as she walked towards the Sick Bay doors.
"No thank you, Corporal," Phlox replied as he went to sit down next to Trip while the doors to Sick Bay closed behind the still grinning Amanda. Phlox adopted his standard professional manner, "I think Commander that it would be best to start with why you want to know about this subject"
Why Trip thought, but one look at Phlox's face assured him he was going to have to give in order to receive.
He plunged right in, "Well T'Pol mentioned this mate bond thing…"
"You just gave the impression you had not discussed this matter with her, I'm a little confused Commander."
"Well…no, not exactly", Trip could see that Phlox was already starting to lose patience with him.
"Commander, please stop prevaricating, Corporal Cole will be back shortly and I do have other more pressing matters to see to. Perhaps we should arrange a more suitable time to discuss this once you have decided what has actually happened." Phlox stated as he pointedly regarded Trip through narrowed eyes.
Trip took a deep breath, "She told me about the bond in a dream".
"And what makes you think that what you experienced wasn't just a dream, your feelings for her have been evident for quite some time".
Trip looked aghast at the Phlox, who then waggled his eyebrows back at him in exasperation.
"What happened was nothing like a normal dream!" Trip managed to indignantly retort.
"Go on", Phlox said motioning for Trip to continue.
"Last night while I was asleep, I was able to speak with T'Pol, a real two way conversation. And I've never heard of a Vulcan mate bond before last night's dream."
"To answer your question, Commander, I have heard it said that a psychic bond can form when Vulcans mate."
"And…do you think it could happen between a Human and Vulcan?" As Phlox started to regard him with barely concealed impatience, Trip added, "I know, silly question, the person I should be talking to about this isn't you."
"Indeed Commander, I could not agree more."
Trip stood up to leave, "Thanks for listening Doc."
"Any time, Commander," Phlox said as he started to walk back to his work station. However just as Trip activated the Sick Bay doors, Phlox stopped him in his tracks, "Oh, by the way Commander, tread gently, remember the emotions that come easily to you, she has very little experience of expressing."
Trip nodded to acknowledge the wisdom of the Doctor's words. He then headed to the Mess Hall for a much needed breakfast and a chance to digest what he had just learnt.
Captain Archer had been summoned to Sick Bay. He arrived just as T'Pol and Phlox were reviewing data on the wall mounted diagnostic board. A DNA thread was continually twisting in an image on small section of the screen while a still close up of part of the DNA thread was displayed in the main area.
"Fascinating," Phlox commented and T'Pol concurred by raising an eyebrow.
"Is it a sample from the planet?" Archer asked, pointing at the images.
"Yes and no, Captain." The Denobulan replied, adding his trademark grin to signal how much he was going to enjoy explaining his remark to Archer.
Luckily it was T'Pol who decided to explain further, "The DNA comes from an insect specimen we captured on the surface of the planet. However we first encountered this species on the planet where Humans where taken from Earth to be enslaved by Skagarans."
"Specifically a dead fly was found crushed on the sole of one of Commander Tucker's boots after he returned from that away mission." Phlox continued as he instructed the computer to show two DNA samples side by side.
"They do look the same," Captain Archer noted.
"And that's not all; this alien species also shares DNA with the Earth insect, commonly known as a bluebottle."
Phlox lifted the sample bottle containing the insect trapped on the planet, which he then presented to Archer.
Archer considered the insect, which buzzed at him behind the glass of the jar, angry at its captivity. "The Skagarans brought humans to that planet as slave workers about two hundred years before this time. We are light years away from there, so how could this hybrid have ended up on this planet?"
"It's not so far if they used the wormhole. We do not know how, but there is a definite connection between the two worlds." Phlox said gently tapping the side of the jar. "Captain, I'm afraid we've discovered another conundrum."
Phlox took the jar away from Archer and then he went over to a small stasis unit beside his work area where he retrieved a tray which he placed on the counter. Archer and T'Pol moved to stand on either side of Phlox. Then Archer looked down at the tray to see displayed there the mangled remains of an animal covered in fur; the small bits of sharp bone sticking through matted fur particularly caught his attention.
"Is this the creature Masaro stood on?" Archer asked wondering why he was being treated to this sight. It looked vaguely like an earth squirrel except for the odd looking platypus shaped tail. Surely this animal couldn't also have an earth relative; that was pushing things a bit far.
"Depends on your definition of creature, Captain," Phlox replied as he used a probe to lift one of its lifeless clawed paws. "It really is amazingly detailed work, but this is a highly sophisticated robot with components that mimic bio matter to an incredible degree. It only got trapped under Ensign Masaro's feet due to a malfunction."
Archer looked again at the broken robot amazed that it wasn't real, "Why have robot animals, we didn't come across anything like that at the settlement. Any idea what their purpose is?"
T'Pol took up the story, "We only encountered them within the area we designated as forested Captain. I have been examining the samples we brought back from that area and have established that each "tree" is in fact a highly efficient solar energy unit. The green pads collect the solar energy which is then channelled down into the ground through highly insulated conduits. The grid as a whole is collecting a significant amount of energy but as yet I have been unable to locate where it is being transferred to. As none of our scans have shown a large energy source I can only conclude that the grid is meant to be hidden. It is probable the robots are part of a security system designed as an intruder alert. I recommend that we proceed with caution."
Archer groaned as he ran his hand over his mouth, "So much for the idyllic paradise that it seemed to be from space. We found an energy signature coming from a metallic object in the large building at the back of the settlement; could this be connected to the energy grid?"
"Unlikely, I reviewed the data you collected. The energy readings are minimal." T'Pol knew from experience that using associations from Earth was easier for humans to understand rather than the Vulcan scientific approach to quote precise but abstract figures, "The energy collected by the grid could easily power a large city such as San Francisco."
"I still feel the object we found could hold the key to what is going on. I want you and Trip to investigate further and pinpoint the source of the energy field we found at the settlement. As Trip has devised a way to tether Enterprise to the space dock we will be here for some time to make urgent repairs. That is if you still agree that the planet has been uninhabited for decades?"
"Yes Captain, nothing we have discovered so far points to recent or current occupation."
"My team searched the settlement but could find nothing to indicate who had lived there. It was as though the place had been cleansed of any mark or symbol to indicate who the inhabitants were. I agree we'll have to be careful but if we did trigger a security device there hasn't been a response. I'm going to allow the crew to visit the planet for some much needed R and R. However the energy grid and the settlement will be marked as off limits. Keep me apprised of any further developments. Good work T'Pol, Phlox."
Trip spent a very frustrating day trying to find an opportunity to speak to T'Pol. He would find an excuse to go to the bridge, only to find she was in a meeting with the Captain or not there. When he tracked finally her down in Cargo Bay 2, T'Pol had been surrounded by crewmen and her body language which Trip took to be directed at him, indicated that she was seriously busy and therefore not to be disturbed. Trip gave up at that point; she obviously did not want to speak to him.
On his way back he took a detour to the Armory to check on the progress of upgrades he had assigned to Lieutenant Kelby's team. As he expected he found Lieutenant Reed in his domain apparently working on a tactical simulation. The Lieutenant was so engrossed in what he was doing Trip was able to walk right up behind him before Reed realized he was not alone and he hit the pause button. Flustered he then turned to face Trip, looking like a guilty child who had been caught playing hooky from school.
"That looks like fun," Trip commented as he laughed at Reed's discomfort and examined the simulation which had stopped just at the point a torpedo was about to blow a large hole in a Xindi Reptilian battle cruiser.
Reed was flustered to find Trip standing there. He had spent many nights considering if he should say something to his friend about Masaro. In the end he had concluded that nothing would be gained from spilling his guts; there wasn't a damn thing that could done to rectify Masaro's actions in this century. Looking at Trip, Reed was cheered to see his friend seemed to be his old self again. The worry that Trip would sink back into the deep depression that had affected him after his sister's death was the main reason that Reed kept silent.
So Malcolm played along with Trip's opening banter, responding in his best hurt and mortally offended tone, "It's not a game Trip, Major Hayes designed this program to identify the most efficient deployment of weapons to ensure the effective targeting of the enemy."
"Malcolm, Enterprise isn't going to come up against any Xindi gunning for us for over a hundred years. Admit it, you're playing war games!"
"You never know when we are going to encounter a hostile species. It would be irresponsible of me not to continue to hone my targeting skills." Reed paused, smiled at Trip and then added, "And so what if I get to have some harmless fun at the same time."
"It's okay, I know how much you like blowing things up."
Trip was aware that Malcolm had just come back from a visit to the planet, so he asked, "Anything requiring your talents on the surface?"
"There's not much down there, as far as we can tell the settlers were involved in some sort of industrial activity. When they left, they cleared out the settlement; only a few of the housing units are habitable. No occupation for at least fifty years. No sign of any military activity, recent or otherwise, which is good; shows no one else has an interest in the planet. Travis is the only person I've seen getting excited about the place though and that's because he's identified some "serious rock climbing cliffs". It's not Earth, Trip, just a very poor imitation."
Trip patted his friend on the shoulder, understanding his unwillingness to find anything good about their temporary base of operations. Nothing could ever come close to their real home, "So, not a good place for a vacation?"
"Well, one plus point is that you'd be unlikely to run into two male muggers masquerading as gorgeous females."
"Hell, that's a real good selling point!"
Although the memory of their shore leave on Risa still sent shivers down Reed's back he was able to smile at Trip's good humour.
"Still I don't think I've encountered a more boring planet, Travis and Corporal McKenzie getting positively dewy eyed about scaling some very steep cliffs is hardly going to set my heart racing."
Malcolm keyed some instructions to reset the simulation so that a graphic of Enterprise appeared at the upper right of the screen. "Anyway, since you're here, how about helping me out with my target practice, what do you want to be, a Vulcan, Andorian or Klingon battle cruiser?"
"I take it, you're Enterprise?"
"Obviously!"
Trip considered his options for a moment, though really there could only be one choice, "I'll go for the Vulcan battle cruiser, prepare to meet your doom, Malcolm."
"You're so predictable," Malcolm retorted laughing and shaking his head as Trip gave him a long, what do you mean by that, stare "Let battle commence!"